Breaking News Blog

By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

A Tehachapi man was arrested Friday after he led Tehachapi Police and California Highway Patrol officers on a half-hour car chase where he intentionally hit two police cars, according to police.

At about 4:32 p.m., a Tehachapi Police officer attempted to make a traffic stop near Charles and Adelante roads, just outside Tehachapi city limits, according to a news release from the Tehachapi Police Department.

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The officer recognized the car and the driver, Adrian Pohl, 40, from an incident earlier in the week. The officer knew that Pohl had two misdemeanor warrants for his arrest and was driving on a suspended driver's license, according to the news release.

Instead of stopping, Pohl sped off eastbound on Highline Boulevard. During the pursuit, Pohl intentionally struck and damaged two Tehachapi police cars, according to the news release. The officers driving those cars, Sgt. Keven Empey and Senior Officer Scott Ketcham, suffered minor injuries. They were taken to Tehachapi Hospital, where they were treated and released.

At about 4:48 p.m., the CHP took over the pursuit. Less than 15 minutes later, Pohl's car got two flat tires. He continued to drive for a couple minutes, but finally stopped when his car got stuck in a dirt field near Dennison Road and Valley Boulevard, according to the news release.

The CHP officers arrested Pohl on suspicion of felony assault of an officer, felony evading and driving with a suspended license.

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The lush grasses and sweeps of wildflowers cloak much of the damage to the small canyon in a blanket of ephemeral green. But Ellen Cypher and Erin Tennant can see it as they walk along a sandy route that has been churned into the bottom of the wash by motorcyclists and quad riders.

Even Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez's self-serving, disingenuous and downright contemptuous ranting against a proposed ban of Piccolo Pete and ground flower-type fireworks wasn't nearly as stunning to me as Supervisor David Couch's silence and eventual vote against the ban.